Chennai Central–Bangalore City line

Chennai Central–Bangalore City line
Overview
Status	Operational
Locale	Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
Termini	Chennai Central Bangalore City
Operation
Opened	1864
Owner	Indian Railway
Operator(s)	Southern Railway, South Western Railway
Depot(s)	Avadi, Arakkonam, Krishnarajapuram, Bangalore Cantonment, Bangalore City
Rolling stock	WAP-1, WAP-4, WAM-4, WAP-7 and WAG-5 electric locos; WDS-6, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDP-4, WDG-3A, WDG-4 and WDS-4 diesel locos
Technical
Track length	Main line:358 km (222 mi) Branch lines: Bangarpet-Kolar-Baiyappanhalli 166 km (103 mi) Bangarpet-Marikuppam16 km (10 mi)
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Operating speed	Up to 130 km/h
Highest elevation	Bangalore City 903 metres (2,963 ft)
Route map

Chennai Central–Bangalore City line

Legend 0 Chennai Central 2 Basin Bridge Diamond junction of Chennai Right to Chennai Egmore To Vijayawada-Chennai section 3 Vyasarpadi Jeeva 4 Vyasarpadi 5 Perambur 6 Perambur Carriage Works 8 Perambur Loco Works Integral Coach Factory 9 Villivakkam 12 Korattur 14 Pattaravakkam 16 Ambattur 17 Thirumullaivoyal 18 Annanur 21 Avadi 24 Hindu College 25 Pattabiram Heavy Vehicles Factory 26 Pattabiram West 27 Nemilichery (Halt) 29 Thiruninravur 32 Veppampattu 36 Sevvapet Road 39 Puttlur (Halt) 42 Tiruvallur State Highway 50 45 Eggatur (Halt) 47 Kadambattur 50 Senji Pannambakkam 53 Manavur 58 Tiruvalangadu 61 Mosur 63 Pulliyamangalam Arakkonam Naval Air Station to Arakkonam-Chengalpattu branch line 69 Arakkonam to Guntakal-Chennai Egmore section 70 Melapakkam Ultratech Cement 78 Chitteri 80 Anavardikhanpet 87 Mahendra Vadi State Highway 128 Mahendra Vadi Quarry 90 Sholinghur 98 Thalangai 100 Marudalam State Highway 61 105 Wallajah Road 113 Mukundarayapuram NH 4 Ponnai River 118 Tiruvalem State Highway 59 128 Sevur State Highway 9 / 83 to Dharmavaram 129 Katpadi to Puducherry 137 Latteri 142 Virinchipuram 148 Kayanur 154 Guriyapattam State Highway 127 159 Melalathur 164 Valathoor 170 Melpatti Palar River 176 Pachachakupam 182 Ambur 190 Vinnamangalam NH 46 198 Vaniyambadi 206 Kettandapatti 213 Jolarapettai to Jolarpettai-Shoranur line 222 Somanayyakanpatti NH 46 230 Patchur 235 Kotturu Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border 241 Malanur State Highway 219 254 Kuppam 264 Gudupalli 269 Bisanattam Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border 276 Kamasamudram 283 Varadapur 7 BEML Nagar BEML 9 Coromandel State Highway 96 12 Ooragaum 14 Champion 16 Marikuppam 288 / 0 / 0 Bangarpet State Highway 95 State Highway 96 NH 4 17 Kolar Kolar-Chik Ballapur Road State Highway 5 29 Jangatta (Halt) Maduvadi Kare (lake) 33 Gottihalli (Halt) 38 Dalasanur (Halt) 46 Srinivasapura (Halt) NH 234 56 Dodaanatta (Halt) State Highway 82 67 Chintamani NH 234 79 Husenahalli (Halt) 88 Sidlagatta 95 Gidanahalli (Halt) 104 Chik Ballapur 110 Nandi (Halt) 117 Venkatagiri Kote (Halt) 120 Avatihalli NH 7 126 Devanahalli Kempegowda International Airport 138 Dodiala 142 Bettahalsoor to Guntakal 150 Yelahanka to Yesvantapur NH 7 State Highway 104 150 Yelahanka 157 Thanisandra 163 Channasandra State Highway 95 296 Maralahalli 300 Tayakal 309 Bytrayanhalli 315 Malur State Highway 117 327 Devangonthi 335 Whitefield 337 Whitefield Satellite 344 Krishnarajapuram HAL 351 Bangalore East 353 Bangalore Cantt to Bangalore–Arsikere–Hubli line to Yeshavantapur-Salem branch line to Mysore 358 Bangalore City to Yeshvantapur Source:Google maps 12639 Brindavan Express 76551 Bangalore City-Kolar DEMU (via Chik Ballapur) 76501 Bangarpet-Kolar railbus 56505 Bangarpet-Marikuppam Passenger

The Chennai Central–Bangalore City line (popularly known as Chennai-Bangalore line) connects the main railway stations in two of the larger cities in India - Chennai Central in Tamil Nadu and Bangalore City in Karnataka.

History

The first train service in southern India and the third in India was operated by Madras Railway from Royapuram / Veyasarapady to Wallajah Road (Arcot) in 1856. Madras Railway extended its trunk route to Beypur / Kadalundi (near Calicut) in 1861. Madras Railway connected Bangalore Cantonment to Jolarpettai on the newly constructed Beypur line in 1864. Bangalore Mail started running the same year.^[1] Bangalore City was linked to Bangalore Cantonment in 1882.^[2]

The 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide narrow gauge line between Bowringpet (later Bangarpet) and Kolar was opened in 1913 by Mysore State Railway. The narrow gauge Yeshvantapur-Devanhalli-Chikballapur line was opened in 1915 and was linked to Bangalore in 1918.^[3]

With the completion of the gauge conversion to broad gauge of the Chikballapur-Kolar section in November 2013, the entire Bangalore-Kolar section was ready for direct broad gauge trains. The gauge conversion took about 7 years.^[4][5]

Gauge conversion of the Bangarpet-Kolar line was completed in 1997 and since then it has been serviced by a railbus.^[6]

The 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge Bangarpet-Marikuppam line came up in 1894.^[7]

Chennai suburban services

EMU trains are operated between Chennai Central and Arakkonam via West Line. It covers the distance of 68 km (42 mi) with 27 halts in a scheduled time of 1 hour 50 mins.^[8] As of 2005, 200,000 passengers daily used the EMU services in this sector.^[9]

Electrification

The Chennai-Trivellur sector was electrified in 1979-80, the Trivellur-Arakkonam-Chitteri sector in 1982-83, the Chitteri-Walajah Road (excl) sector in 1983-84, theWallajah Road-Katpadi sector in 1984-85, the Katpadi-Jolerapettai sector in 1985-86, the Jolerapettai-Mulanur sector in 1990-91, the Mulanur-Bangarpet-Bangalore City sector in 1991-92.^[10]

Speed limit

Chennai Central-Arakonnam-Jolarapettai-Bangalore City is classified as a "Group B" line and can take speeds up to 130 km/h.^[11]

Sheds and workshops

Arakkonam earlier had a steam loco shed, now has an electric loco shed that holds 135+ locos, which include WAP-1,WAM-4 and WAG-5 locos.^[12]

Krishnarajapuram diesel loco shed, opened in 1983, can hold 125 locos. These include: WDS-6, WDM-2, WDM-3A, WDP-4, WDG-3A and WDG-4 locos. Bangalore Cantonment diesel loco shed holds WDS-4 locos.^[12]

Jolarpettai has an electric/ diesel trip shed.^[12]

The Carriage and Wagon Workshops at Perambur repairs broad gauge coaches and wagons. The Locomotive Workshops at Perambur was the premier broad gauge steam loco repair shop in the south. Even now performs the annual overhaul of the Fairy Queen. The workshop now primarily handles the repair and maintenance of electric locomotives from all over the south an even beyond.^[12]

Basin Bridge has a carriage maintenance works. Avadi has a broad gauge EMU maintenance and car shed. Arakkonam has engineering workshops.^[12]

Passenger movement

Chennai Central, Katpadi and Bangalore City, on this line, are amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.^[13]

Railway reorganization

In the early 1950s legislation was passed authorizing the central government to take over independent railway systems that were there. On 14 April 1951 the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway, the South Indian Railway Company and Mysore State Railway were merged to form Southern Railway. Subsequently, Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway was also merged into Southern Railway. On 2 October 1966, the Secunderabad, Solapur, Hubli and Vijayawada Divisions, covering the former territories of Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway and certain portions of Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway were separated from Southern Railway to form the South Central Railway. In 1977, Guntakal division of Southern Railway was transferred to South Central Railway and the Solapur division transferred to Central Railway. Amongst the seven new zones created in 2003 was South Western Railway, which was carved out of Southern Railway and South Central railway.^[14]

References

External links

• Trains at Chennai Central
• Trains at Arakkonam
• Trains at Katpadi
• Trains at Jolarpettai
• Trains at Bangalore City

Railways in Southern India
National network / trunk lines	Howrah–Chennai main line New Delhi–Chennai main line Mumbai–Chennai line
Other lines / sections	Chennai Central–Bangalore City line Chennai Egmore–Thanjavur main line Chord Line Coimbatore–Shoranur railway line Gudivada–Bhimavaram section Gudivada–Machilipatnam branch line Guntakal–Chennai Egmore section Guntur–Macherla section Guntur–Repalle section Jolarpettai–Shoranur line Kazipet–Vijayawada section Kollam–Sengottai branch line Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section Kothavalasa–Kirandul line Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line Mysore–Bangalore railway line Mysore–Chamarajanagar branch line Nagpur–Hyderabad line Nilambur–Nanjangud rail line (Proposed) Nilambur–Shoranur railway line Nilgiri Mountain Railway Palakkad–Pollachi line Pagidipalli–Nallapadu railway line Peralam–Karaikal line Sabari railway line (Proposed) Shimoga–Talaguppa railway Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section Shoranur–Mangalore section Solapur–Guntakal section Vijayawada–Chennai section Vijayawada–Guntur section Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line Guntakal–Vasco da Gama section Pune–Miraj–Londa line Bangalore–Arsikere–Hubli line Pamban–Dhanushkodi branch line (Defunct)
Urban and suburban rail transport	Chennai Chennai Suburban Railway Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System Chennai Metro Hyderabad Multi-Modal Transport System Hyderabad Metro Rail Bangalore Bangalore Commuter Rail Namma Metro Kochi Kochi Metro
Monorails	Bangalore Chennai Coimbatore Kozhikode Tiruchirappalli Thiruvananthapuram
Defunct railways	Cochin State Forest Tramway Kundala Valley Railway
Railway divisions	Bangalore Chennai Bangalore Hubli Madurai Mysore Palakkad Salem Thiruvananthapuram Tiruchirappalli
Named trains	Ahilya Nagari Express Ajmer–Hyderabad Meenakshi Express Andaman Express Amritha Express Anantapuri Express Andhra Pradesh Express Bangalore City–Ernakulam Intercity Express Bangalore Rajdhani Express Bhagmati Express Brindavan Express Chalukya Express Chamundi Express Charminar Express Chemmozhi Express Chennai Rajdhani Express Chennai–Alleppey Express Chennai Central–Coimbatore Shatabdi Express Chennai Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express Chennai–Jaipur Express Chennai–Madurai Duronto Express Chennai–Mysore Shatabdi Express Chennai Thiruvananthapuram AC Duronto Express Chennai Egmore–Mangalore Central Express Chennai Central–Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express Cheran Express Cholan Express Circar Express Cocanada AC Express Coimbatore–Chennai Express Coimbatore–Jaipur Express Coimbatore–Nagercoil Express Coimbatore–Tuticorin Link Express Coimbatore–Rameswaram Express Coromandel Express Ernad Express Ernakulam–H.Nizamudin Duronto Falaknuma Express Ganga Kaveri Express Godavari Express Gol Gumbaz Express Golconda Express Golden Chariot Goutami Express Grand Trunk Express Guruvayur Express Hampi Express Himsa Express Himsagar Express Hirakud Express Howrah–Chennai Mail Howrah–Kanyakumari Express Hussainsagar Express Hyderabad–Pune Express Indore–Yesvantpur Express Island Express Janmabhoomi Express Kanyakumari Express Kanyakumari–Mumbai Express Kaveri Express Kerala Express Krishna Express Kollam–Visakhapatnam Express Kongu Express Kovai Express Lal Bagh Express Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Ernakulam Duronto Express Malabar Express Mangala Lakshadweep Express Mangalore Yaswanthpur Express Manikarnika Express Mannai express Marusagar Express Matsyaganda Express Maveli Express Mayiladuthurai–Mysore Express Mumbai CST Chennai Express Mysore–Tuticorin Express Nagarjuna Express Nagercoil Passenger Nagavali Express Narayanadri Express Navjivan Express Navyug Express Nellai Express Netravati Express Nilgiri Express Pallavan Express Pandian Express Parasuram Express Pearl City Express Pinakini Express Poorna Express Pothigai Express Pune–Ernakulam Express Rajkot–Coimbatore Express Rani Chennamma Express Raptisagar Express Rockfort Express Sabari Express Samata Express Sanghamithra Express Satavahana Express Secunderabad Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express Secunderabad Rajdhani Express Secunderabad Mumbai Duronto Express Sharavati Express Sethu Express Silambu Express Simhapuri Express Tamil Nadu Express Tea Garden Express Thirukural Express Tippu Express Tirumala Express Tiruchirappalli–Howrah Superfast Express Tiruchirappalli–Mayiladuthurai Express Tiruchirappalli–Tirunelveli Intercity Express Thiruvananthapuram Mail Thiruvananthapuram–Indore Express Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express Udyan Express Uzhavan Express Vanchinad Express Venad Express Visakha Express Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Duronto Express Visakhapatnam–Secunderabad Garib Rath Express West coast express Yesvantpur Puducherry Garib Rath Express Yelagiri express Yercaud Express
Manufacturing units / workshops / sheds	Integral Coach Factory Rail Wheel Factory Golden Rock Railway Workshop Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock Kollam MEMU Shed
Railway zones	South Central Railway Southern Railway South Western Railway
Railway companies	Konkan Railway Corporation Kerala Monorail Corporation East Coast State Railway Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway Hyderabad–Godavari Valley Railways Madras Railway Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
Agitations and accidents	1928 South Indian railway strike 1932 Madras and Southern Mahratta railway strike 1974 railway strike in India 1988 Kollam Peruman train accident Nellore train fire
See also	Indian Railways Bholu (mascot) Transport in Guntur Madras Time Thiruvananthapuram–Mangalore high-speed passenger corridor Annual passenger earnings details of railway stations in Kerala
Railways in India portal